Drum-type programmer with improved elongated pinion gear and cylindrical drum structure

ABSTRACT

A drum-type programmer for performing a plurality of switch operations in a predetermined sequence during a timing cycle, comprising: a frame member; a motor secured to the frame member; an elongated pinion gear; means for interconnecting the motor and pinion gear; an elongated, cylindrical, one-piece timer drum in driving engagement with the pinion gear; and, a plurality of switches mounted on the frame member for sequential actuation by the drum.

United States Patent Harold D. l-lulterstrum Baraboo, Wis.;

Frank Arthur Pearson, Moline, Ill. 805,728

Mar. 10, 1969 Feb. 23, 1971 Gulf & Western Industries New York, N.Y.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee DRUM-TYPE PROGRAMMER WITH IMPROVED ELONGATED PINION GEAR AND CYLINDRICAL DRUM STRUCTURE 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 200/38, 200/18, 200/153, 74/568 Int. Cl l-l0lh 7/08, l-lOlh 43/ 10 Field of Search 200/8, 11,

11(C),17,18,38(all),153.1l,153.13,l53.17, 153.19,47;74/412, 422,568

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,536 2/1959 Honeywell ..200/l53(.13)X 2,917,591 12/1959 Juhas 200/153(. l3)X 2,951,920 9/1960 Miller 200/47 2,973,412 2/1961 Josephetal... 200/47 3,177,310 4/1965 Deeken ..200/153(.13)X 3,383,478 5/1968 Mandel 200/8 Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-J. R. Scott Attorney-Meyer, Tilberry and Body ABSTRACT: A drum-type programmer for performing a plurality of switch operations in a predetermined sequence during a timing cycle, comprising: a frame member; a motor secured to the frame member; an elongated pinion gear; means for interconnecting the motor and pinion gear; an elongated, cylindrical, one-piece timer drum in driving engagement with the pinion gear; and, a plurality of switches mounted on the frame member for sequential actuation by the drum.

SHEET 1 OF 2 I 4 INVENTOR.

HAROLD D- HULTERSTRUM I FIG 2 3' BY FRANK A. PEARSON ORNEYS PATENTE0F823|97| 3566Q051 SHEETEUFZ 92 ID V I 84 24 I 96 v mg 7 94 74 v 72 7 7 38 l ullm.

+3 74 HHWUHI 3 FIG. 3

34 FIG. 4

IINVENTOR.

HAROLD D. HULTERSTRUM BY FRANK A. PEARSON ATTORNEYS DRUM-TYPE PROGRAMMER WITH IMPROVED ELONGATED PINION GEAR AND CYLINDRICAL DRUM STRUCTURE This application pertains to the programmer art and more particularly to an improved drum-type programmer.

The invention is particularly applicable to a programmer for controlling a fixed series of operations in an assembly such as an automatic washing machine'andwill be described with particular reference thereto; however, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be used whenever it is desired to govern the starting, stopping and intermediate sequence of operations in a machine or system, where these operations are desired to occur more or'less automatically. I i

Commercially available programmers have heretofore been 1 classified into four. general categories, which are as follows: (1) split-cam; (2) rubber or plastic sheet wrapped around; (3) solid metal or plastic; and, (4) key and cam. While the aforementioned programmers do vary in'cam design and structure, they generally have similar mechanical components. Thus, most programmers will be comprised of a synchronous motor driving a cam shaft or drum through a gear train. The dam shaft or drum rotates continuously as long" as the motor is energized. Adjustable cams, whose design "varies in ac-' cordance with the above-described types of programmers, determine the closing and opening points of a-plurality of switches during each cam or-drum revolution. Split cam programmers have a cam mechanism which consists of two identical cam halves, each half' being adapted to prod'uce. a cycle with up'to one half time in the on'i position and one half time in the off" position, or any portion less that that. Wrap around programmers are comprised of a ru'bber or plastic sheet which wraps around a driven drum and is programmed by removing material from the surface of the sheet by means of a simpletool, such as a'knife. Solid metal or. plastic camtype programmers havean elongated driveshaft'which has disposed about its periphery a plurality of outwardly extending projections which may be removed todefinea cam profile. Lastly, key and cam-typeprogrammers include an elongated drive shaft having a plurality of holes spacedabout its periphery into which are inserted outwardly extending keys which define the cam profile. v I

Programmers of th'e'above-described types have encountered numerous problems which'can betraceddirectly to the particular type of cam structure whichis'being employed. Thus, for example, inthe split cam and solid metal or plastic cam type programmers, programming necessitates the removal of a plurality of cam structures from the drive shaft. As such, a minor programming change disrupts the entire arrangement of cams on the shaft. Wrap around programmers are an improvement over the aforementioned system inasmuch as only a single elongated cam is involved, thus eliminating the need for resetting the entire program when making only a minor change. However, other. disadvantages do exist, such as loss of accuracy since the program is hand out with a tool or decomposition of the rubber dueto the heat and fumes. Similarly, when a plastic wrap around. sheet is employed problems of tearing and cracking have existed. These problems are attributable directly to. the sheet itself which must be kept very thin so that it can be wrapped around the drive shaft. Key and cam-type programmers are easier to program and change than the aforementioned types, ho wever, in order to change a program it is necessary to remove each and every key and then reinsert them in a new location. This is not In accordance with the present invention there is provided a drum-type programmer for performing'a plurality of switch operations in a predetermined sequence during a timing cycle having an initial position and a final position, comprising: a frame member; a motor secured to the frame member and adapted to be energized by an external power source; an elongated pinion gear; means for interconnecting the motor and pinion gear, whereby the pinion-gear is rotatably driven by the motor when the motor is energized; an elongated, cylindrical, one-piece timer drum carried by the pinion gear having an outer and inner surface; a plurality of axially spaced, radially outwardly extending cams formed integrally with the drum on the outer surface thereof; a plurality of elongated, circumferentially spaced drive teeth formed integrally with the drum on the inner surface thereof and in driving engagement with the pinion gear when the drum is carried by the pinion gear, whereby the drum rotates when the motor is energized; and, a plurality of switches mounted on the frame member adjacent the cams, whereby the switches are sequentially actuated by the cams upon rotation of the drum.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer wherein programs may be rapidly and easily interchanged.-

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer which is less susceptible to programming errors.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer having a drum and cam design which is not affected by heat and fumes, and is resistant to tearing or cracking.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer which is capable of manual program advancement during the operation of a mechanism which is being controlled.

Yet another object of the resent invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer wherein the switches are so located and mounted that they may be easily replaced.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer wherein the drive train is enclosed in a housing to protect it from possible damage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum-type programmer which is simple and economical to manufacture. I1

These and other objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following description used to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention when read'in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: f

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a drum-type programmer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention having the drum in the removed position; i

only a time-consuming process, but cane'a silylead to a programming error as a result of the vast number of keys.

The present invention contemplates a new andimproved FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing in detail various features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

Referring to the drawings wherein .the showings are for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIG. I

.shows a drum-type programmer, referred to generally by the letter A, having a drum B which is dimensionally capable of insertion into the programmer for the purpose of programming same, and a switch assembly C secured to the programmer for the performance of sequential switching operations.

The programmer A includes an outer housing comprised of an elongated, outer cylindrical wall 10, a rear wall 12, and a front mounting wall 14. Disposed within the outer housing is an inner motor housing comprising an inner cylindrical wall 16, a rear flange portion 18 integral therewith and a front wall 20. The programmer A is secured to a frame member 22 of a mechanism (not illustrated) that is to be controlled by means of screws 24 which pass through the front mounting wall 14 and secure the programmer to the frame member. An annular motor-mounting wall 30 is disposed coaxially within the outer cylindrical wall at a preselected distance from the rear wall 12. Spacers 32 placed intermediate the rear wall 12 and motor-mounting wall 30 maintain the latter at the aforementioned preselected distance. The rear flange portion 18 of the inner cylindrical wall 16 is affixed to the front face of the motor-mounting wall'30 by bolts 34 which pass through the rear wall 12, the spacers 32 and the motor-mounting wall to hold these components together as a unit.

in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a synchronous motor 36 which is secured to the front face of the motor-mounting wall 30 by motor-mounting bolts 38. The motor 36 is encased in an area defined by the inner cylindrical wall 16, the motor-mounting wall 30 and the front wall 20, thereby isolating it fromthe rest of the programmer A, as well as from the mechanism (not illustrated) which it is controlling. in this manner it is protected against possible damage due to heat and chemical fumes. It is to be appreciated that although a synchronous motor has been illustrated, other types of motors may be employed. Thus, for example, a dual-speed motor could be used in order to permit selection by the programmer of different rotational speeds during a timing cycle. The motor 36 is adapted to be energized by an external power source (not illustrated) which is connected to the programmer by a pair of contacts 40.

A longitudinal shaft 42, having one end rotatably received in the forward uppermost part of the inner cylindrical wall 16, extends rearward therefrom passing through the motormounting wall 30 and being supported therein by a bearing 44. Secured to a longitudinal portion of the shaft 42 is an elongated pinion gear 62, which extends radially outward through an elongated opening 50 (as shown in FIG. 3) in the upper most portion of the inner cylindrical wall 16. A plurality of elongated teeth 52 are disposed about the periphery of the pinion gear 46 and project above the outer surface of the inner cylindrical wall 16. Secured to the rearwardmost part of the shaft 42-, intermediate the motor-mounting wall 30 and the rear wall 12 is a driven gear 54 which is maintained in the aforementioned position by a retainer 56.

in accordance with the present invention there is provided means for interconnecting the motor 36 and pinion gear 46 which may take many forms; however, in the present invention it takes the form of a clutch and gear train arrangement. Adjacent the motor 36 and connected thereto isa clutch assembly 58 comprising an override clutch (not illustrated) and a drive shaft 60 extending outwardly therefrom. The drive shaft 60 extends rearward through the motor-mounting wall 30 and has secured on its rearwardmost portion a driving gear 62 which is held in place by a retainer 64. The driving gear 62 is in driving engagement with the driven gear 54. Thus, when the motor 36 is energized the pinion gear 46 will be rotatably driven. It is to be appreciated that the rate at which the pinion gear 46 will rotate can be varied depending upon the particular use to which the programmer A is put and that this can be easily accomplished by changing the gear ratio between the driving gear 62 and the driven gear 54.

In order to control the programming operation there is provided a drum assembly B having an elongated, cylindrical, one-piece body portion 70, a plurality of axially spaced cams 72 formed integrally with the body portion on the outer surface thereof, and a plurality of elongated, circumferentially spaced drive teeth 74 formed integrally with the body portion on the inner surface thereof. Each of the earns 72 is comprised of segmented ribs 76 (as shown in FIG. 2). In order to construct a specific program the segmented ribs 76 may be individually broken away to define a cam profile having depressed areas 78. The internal diameter of the body portion 70 is greater than the external diameter of the inner cylindrical wall 16 and the drum assembly B is therefore dimensionally capable of being inserted into the programmer A between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall 10. in this position the drive teeth 74 are in' driving engagement with the elongated teeth 52 of the pinion gear 46,

whereby the drum assembly B rotates when the motor 36 is mented ribs 76 have been removed from the various cams 72 i energized. The body portion 70 extends axially outward beyond the front mounting wall 14 of the programmer A and has a knurled circumferential surface 80 on its forwardmost edge to facilitate the insertion and removal of the drum assembly B by an operator. v

Disposed on the uppermost surfaceof the programmer A is a switch assembly C having a switch housing 82, which is secured to the outer cylindrical wall 10 by screws 84, and a plurality of snap action switches releasably retained in the switch housing by elongated removable pins 92. A major portion of the switch assembly C is located over an opening 94 (as best shown in FIG. 3) in the outer cylindrical wall 10. Part of the switch housing 82 extends inwardly through the opening 94 and into the compartment defined by the outer cylindrical wall 10 and the body portion 70 of the drum to form projections 96. The projections 96 continue in their inward direction to a point adjacent the body portion 70 and are so located as to fall intermediate two adjoining cams'72. In this manner the axial and radial movement of the drum assembly B relative to the elongated pinion gear 46 is prevented during the timing cycle.

An axial slot 98 extends through each and every cam 72 to define a pathway in the cams which has a width greater than the width of the projections 96. As such, when the drum assembly B is in a given position, namely when the projections 96 and the axial slot 98 are in alignment, the drum assembly may be drivingly engaged or disengaged from the elongated pinion gear 46, by insertion or removal of the drum assembly, respectively, from the programmer A. it can therefore be seen, that numerous drum assemblies which define various programs can be easily and rapidly interchanged to provide a flexible drum-type programmer.

The snap action switches 90 each include an actuating level 100, which like the projections 96, extend into that area defined by the outer cylindrical wall 10 and the body portion of the drum 70. The actuating levers 100 are spring biased and are therefore capable of following a given cam profile. Hence, they will either ride on the segmented ribs 76 or be biased inward at depressed areas 78 to be in contact with the body portion 70. In this manner the switches 90 will be sequentially actuated and deactuated in accordance with a program. In the event a given switch 90 becomes defective, the subject invention, unlike prior art devices, provides a simple and novel method of replacement. Since the switch assembly C is mounted on the outer surface of the programmer A and therefore readily accessible, the operator need only remove the elongated pins 92 which retain the individual switches 90 in the switch housing 82. The defective switch may now be removed and a new switch inserted in its place. The pins 92 are replaced and the switches 90 are once again secured in their respective positions.

By referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 the operation of the subject invention will now be described in' detail. For purposes of this explanation it will be assumed that the appropriate segin order to define a plurality of cam profiles which determine the switching operations and ultimately the program to be followed. It will further be assumed that this structure is represented by the drum assembly B as illustrated in FIG. 1, which is in position for insertion into the programmer A. Additionally, it will be assumed that the programmer A has been installed in a washing machine (not illustrated) by securing the front mounting wall 14 of the programmer to the frame 22 of the washing machine by means of screws 24 and that an external power source has been connected to contacts 40.

Mounted on the front wall 20 is a face plate 102 which has a timing scale printed thereon. The timing scale corresponds to a preselected timing cycle which has an initial position and a final position designated by arrows 104, 106, respectively, which are also printed on the face plate 102 (as shown in FIG. 1). The area defined by advancing circumferentially from the final position 106 to the initial position 104 does not represent a segment of the timing cycle, but instead corresponds to a deactivated state during which the motor 36 is not energized and, hence, the programmer A is not operating. This area also serves to define the point at which the projections 96 extend inwardly from the switch housing 82. Thus, in order to insert the drum assembly 13 into the programmer A, the operator need only align the slot 98 between the arrows i, 106 and push the drum assembly rearward. Since the slot 93 is of greater width than the projections 96, the drum assembly B will easily slide past the projections and seat itself on the elongated pinion gear 46 with the drive teeth 74 of the drum assembly in driving engagement with the elongated teeth 52 of the pinion gear. The programmer-Afis now ready for operation.

in order to start the timing cycle, and hence the program, the operator grasps the knurled surface 80 of the drum body portion 70 and turns it in a slight clockwise direction until a marker 103 on the body portion is in alignment with the arrow 104. This causes the motor control switch, which may be any one of the snap action switches 9i), to be actuated, thereby energizing the motor 36. The motor 36 drives through a clutch assembly 58, and by means of driving gear 62 and driven gear 54 causes the pinion gear 46 to be rotated. Since the drum as sembly B is in driving engagement with the pinion gear 46, it too rotates and a programming operation is begun.

It is to be appreciated that various methods may be employed to control the rate of rotation. Thus, for example, a dual-speed motor could be used in order to permit selection by the programmer of different rates of rotation during the timing cycle. This would be accomplished by utilizing one of the snap action switches 90 to actuate either the faster or slower of the two motors during preselected portions of the timing cycle. More permanent changes in speed could be obtained by varying the gear ratio of the pinion gear 46 or of the driving gear and driven gear 62, 54, respectively. It would also be possible to replace the synchronous motor 36 of the preferred embodiment with a step motor in order to achieve certain desired results.

As the drum assembly B rotates, the segmented ribs 76 and depressed areas 78, which define the cam profile, cause the switches 90 to be actuated or deactuated by their respective actuating levers 100. The switches 90 are connected to various components in the washing machine (the connections and washing machine not being illustrated) in order to control their operation in a preselected sequence. During the particular point in the timing cycle illustrated by FIG. 2, some of the switches 90 have been actuated, and are so designated by the reference letter 1:, while others remain in their normal position. This will, of course, change as the drum assembly B continues to rotate.

Once the timing cycle has begun, the axial slot 98 is no longer in alignment with the projections 96. As such, at least one of the inwardly extending projections 90 will always be adjacent the drum body 70 and immediately in front of a segmented rib 76 (as shown in FIG. 2).-Being so located, the axial movement of the drum assembly B relative to the pinion gear 46 is prevented during the timing cycle..The radial movement of, the drum assembly B relative to-the' pinion gear 46 is also prevented by the proximity of the projections 96 to the body portion70. 4 l

The drum assembly continues torotate and program the operation of the washing machine until the final position 106 is reached. At this point, the slot 98 is once again in alignment with the projections 96, and the actuating level 100 of the switch 90 which controls the energization of the motor 36 is spring biased into the slot, thereby deenergizing the motor to prevent further rotation of the drum assembly B. The override clutch (not illustrated) which is contained in the clutch assembly 58 makes it possible to manually advance the drum assembly B in a clockwise direction through any given segment of the timing cycle, or through the entire cycle, even though the motor 36 is in the energized state and hence driving the pinion gear 46. It is also possible to configure a drum assembly which is capable of continuous operation, by constructin a drum assembly which does not have an axial slot provi ed therein, but instead has cams which traverse the entire circumference of the drum body. However, when this arrangement is used it is necessary to-eliminate the projections 96. Furthermore, in order to insert the drum assembly into the programmer it is necessary to lift the actuating levers of the switches above the surface of the cams.

in view of the foregoing, it can be readily seen the subject invention provides an improved drurn-type programmer wherein programs may be rapidly and easily interchanged. As such, it is possible to have on hand numerous programmed drums for almost instantaneous insertion into the programmer, thus magnifyingits versatility.

We claim: w

1. A drum-type programmer for performing a plurality of switch operations in a predetermined sequence during a timing cycle having an initial position and a final position, com prising: a frame member; a motor secured to said frame member and adapted to be energized by an external power source; an elongated pinion gear; means for interconnecting said motor and pinion gear, whereby said pinion gear is rotatably driven by said motor when said motor is energized; an elongated, cylindrical, one-piece timer drum carried by said pinion gear having an outer and inner surface; a plurality of axially spaced, radially outwardly extending cams formed integrally with said drum on said outersurface thereof; a plurality of elongated, circumferentially spaced drive teeth formed integrally with said drum on said inner surface thereof and in driving engagement with said pinion gear when said drum is carried by said pinion gear, whereby said drum rotates when said motor is energized; and, a plurality'of switches mounted on said frame member adjacent said timer drum, whereby said switches are sequentially actuated by said cams upon rotation of said drum.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means includes an override clutch, whereby said drum may be manually advanced through any desired segment of the timing cycle when said motor is in the energized condition.

3. The invention defined in claim I, wherein each of said cams is comprised of segmented ribs, said segments being individually removable to form a cam profile defining a program.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, further including at least one projection extending radially inwardly to a point adjacent the outer surface of said drum, and in side-by-side relationship with at least one of said cams, said cams being rearward of said projection, whereby axial movement of said drum relative to said pinion gear is prevented during the timing cycle due to said side-by-side relationship and radial movement of said drum relative to said pinion gear is prevented by the proximity of the projection to the outer surface of said drum.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, wherein an axial slot ex tends through said cams to define a pathway having a width greater than the width of said projection, whereby when said projection and slot are in alignment said drum may be drivingly disengaged from said pinion gear by axially removing said drum from its position on said gear.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said axial slot is located with respect to said cams in an area on said outer surface of said drum defined by advancing circumferentially from said final position to said initial position of the timing cycle.

7. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said switches are mounted on said frame member by at least one removable pin which extends through said switches and frame, whereby said switches may be easily replaced or removed and installed in accordance with the particular operational requirements of said programmer. 

1. A drum-type programmer for performing a plurality of switch operations in a predetermined sequence during a timing cycle having an initial position and a final position, comprising: a frame member; a motor secured to said frame member and adapted to be energized by an external power source; an elongated pinion gear; means for interconnecting said motor and pinion gear, whereby said pinion gear is rotatably driven by said motor when said motor is energized; an elongated, cylindrical, one-piece timer drum carried by said pinion gear having an outer and inner surface; a plurality of axially spaced, radially outwardly extending cams formed integrally with said drum on said outer surface thereof; a plurality of elongated, circumferentially spaced drive teeth formed integrally with said drum on said inner surface thereof and in driving engagement with said pinion gear when said drum is carried by said pinion gear, whereby said drum rotates when saId motor is energized; and, a plurality of switches mounted on said frame member adjacent said timer drum, whereby said switches are sequentially actuated by said cams upon rotation of said drum.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means includes an override clutch, whereby said drum may be manually advanced through any desired segment of the timing cycle when said motor is in the energized condition.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein each of said cams is comprised of segmented ribs, said segments being individually removable to form a cam profile defining a program.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1, further including at least one projection extending radially inwardly to a point adjacent the outer surface of said drum, and in side-by-side relationship with at least one of said cams, said cams being rearward of said projection, whereby axial movement of said drum relative to said pinion gear is prevented during the timing cycle due to said side-by-side relationship and radial movement of said drum relative to said pinion gear is prevented by the proximity of the projection to the outer surface of said drum.
 5. The invention defined in claim 4, wherein an axial slot extends through said cams to define a pathway having a width greater than the width of said projection, whereby when said projection and slot are in alignment said drum may be drivingly disengaged from said pinion gear by axially removing said drum from its position on said gear.
 6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said axial slot is located with respect to said cams in an area on said outer surface of said drum defined by advancing circumferentially from said final position to said initial position of the timing cycle.
 7. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said switches are mounted on said frame member by at least one removable pin which extends through said switches and frame, whereby said switches may be easily replaced or removed and installed in accordance with the particular operational requirements of said programmer. 